Authorities in Nigeria have announced that two military personnel will be facing a court martial following the killing of 85 villagers in a military drone attack in December in the conflict-ridden north of the country. The Defense Headquarters spokesperson revealed that the personnel will be subjected to military justice proceedings for their actions, as investigations indicated that the civilians killed in the strike were mistaken for terrorists.
Nigeria's military has been engaged in combating extremist violence and rebel attacks in the northern region for over a decade, often resulting in civilian casualties. According to a security firm, around 400 civilians have been unintentionally killed in military air raids since 2017.
The tragic incident occurred during a Muslim holiday celebration in Kaduna state's Tudun Biri village. Human Rights Watch has called for more transparency from Nigerian military authorities regarding the investigation, urging compensation for the victims and the implementation of measures to prevent similar misfires in the future.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed his disapproval of such errors, emphasizing the need to avoid their recurrence. Rights groups and activists have also criticized the attack, demanding increased oversight of military operations in conflict zones.
Concerns have been raised about the use of drones by Nigerian security agencies without clear guidelines on their deployment. A security analyst highlighted the necessity for stringent precautions to safeguard non-combatants in future military operations.
